Allergies: Should I Take Shots for Insect Sting Allergies?

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

Allergies: Should I Take Shots for Insect Sting Allergies?

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Get the facts

Your options

Get allergy shots to make you less sensitive
to insect stings and reduce the risk of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

Do not get allergy shots, and try other things such as avoiding
stinging insects and carrying epinephrine to deal with the risk of a severe allergic
reaction.

Key points to remember

Allergy shots usually are recommended only for people who have
already had a bad reaction that affects their whole body. If you have been
stung in the past and had a whole-body
allergic reaction to the sting, you have a high risk
of having a similar reaction if you are stung again.

If you had an
anaphylactic (life-threatening) reaction in the past,
allergy shots greatly reduce your risk of having another severe whole-body
reaction.footnote 1

You may not need allergy shots if you had a normal (localized)
reaction or a large localized allergic reaction to an insect sting in the past.

If you have had
allergy tests that found one or more sensitivities to
insect stings, allergy shots can prevent life-threatening reactions and also
make you less worried about insect stings.

Allergy shots may not be
safe for you if you have an
autoimmune disease or take certain kinds of medicines (such as beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors).

Allergy shots can hurt a little, may trigger anaphylaxis in
some people, can be costly, and usually take 3 to 5 years to complete.

Minor allergic reactions occur around the site of the sting. This is
called a localized reaction, and it can cause pain, itching, redness,
swelling, and hives near the site of the sting.

A more serious
allergic reaction can spread throughout your entire body. This is called a
systemic reaction. It can cause symptoms such as
itching,
hives, and swelling of the tongue, throat, or other
body parts.

A life-threatening systemic allergic reaction called
anaphylaxis can cause severe symptoms such as confusion,
trouble breathing,
shock, and sometimes death.

Allergy shots work by
putting small amounts of insect venom into your body, making you less sensitive
over time to the venom.

Getting a series of allergy shots can
prevent a systemic allergic reaction or make it less severe. Allergy shots aren't needed if you have mild, local allergic reactions to insect stings. Only
about 5 to 10 people out of 100 who have localized reactions to insect stings go on
to have a more serious, whole-body allergic reaction.footnote 2
This means that 90 to 95 out of 100 people who have localized reactions don't ever have a whole-body
reaction to an insect sting.

Allergy shots can greatly reduce your risk of having
another life-threatening reaction if you've had one before. Imagine a group of
100 people who have had a life-threatening reaction. Without allergy shots, up to 60
of those 100 people will have another life-threatening reaction in the future.
But if those 100 people get allergy shots, only 5 of them will have another
life-threatening reaction.footnote 1 This treatment is most effective after an entire course of allergy shots is complete.

After allergy
tests have identified the insect(s) you are allergic to, you can begin to get
the shots. At first, you will get weekly shots of small doses of venom and
allergens from the insect(s) that cause your allergies. After about 4 to 6
months of weekly shots, you will get a regular dose, called a maintenance dose,
every 4 weeks for another 4 to 6 months. Finally, you will keep getting monthly
shots for 3 to 5 years, depending on the type of stings that cause your
allergies. For example, fire ant allergies require longer treatment than other
stinging insect allergies.

If
you have had severe reactions to insect stings in the past, you may want to get a series of allergy
shots on a faster schedule. For this you get allergy shots every few hours on one day or every few days. This helps to rapidly
increase your tolerance to an allergen. After the first shot, you must wait to
see if you have a reaction to the shot. If you don't have a reaction, you get
more shots throughout the day. You (or your child) may feel anxious about
receiving the next shot. So it may help to bring a book or something to
distract you while you wait.

This treatment usually works in 1 to
8 days instead of the standard treatment, which takes several months. You may
have this "rush" treatment if you have severe or life-threatening allergic
reactions to insect stings, are a long distance from any type of health care
center, have severe
allergic asthma, or are about to travel.

Allergy shots
are safe for most people. The most common side effects are redness and warmth
at the injection site. Some people may have large local reactions that include
itching, hives, or swelling of the skin near the injection site.

But allergy shots can trigger a more serious whole-body reaction, which
may include trouble breathing or swelling in the deep layers of the skin. In
rare cases, a person may have a life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to the shots. Because of this, the shots
are given in a clinic or other health care setting where emergency care can be
provided if needed.

Talk with your doctor if you have an
autoimmune disease (such as
lupus) or are taking medicine for heart problems (such
as
beta-blockers). Allergy shots may not be safe for
you.

You are younger than 16 and
had a mild skin reaction all over your body (systemic reaction) without any
other symptoms.

You tried allergy shots before, but the shots
triggered a moderate to severe allergic reaction.

Compare your options

Compare

What is usually involved?

What are the benefits?

What are the risks and side effects?

Have allergy shots
Have allergy shots

You have a series of allergy
shots every week.

After 4 to 6 months of weekly shots, you get a shot every 4
weeks.

How long you receive monthly shots depends on the type of
insect sting you are treating.

If you have had a severe
allergic reaction, allergy shots can prevent symptoms from future insect stings
or make your symptoms less severe.

You may
have:

Redness and warmth at the injection site. (This is the most
common side effect.)

Large local reactions that include itching, hives, or swelling of
the skin near the injection site.

A serious whole body reaction (anaphylaxis),
which may include having a hard time breathing or swelling in the deep layers
of the skin. In rare cases, this allergic reaction can be life-threatening.

Don't have allergy shots
Don't have allergy shots

You avoid insect
stings.

If you get stung, you take medicine, such as
antihistamines, for itching and other symptoms and then get medical help.

You carry epinephrine in case of a severe allergic
reaction.

You will avoid having
shots.

You won't have to spend the money on a long series of
shots.

You won't have to travel to a clinic for regular shots.

You could
have a moderate to severe allergic reaction to an insect sting.

You
could have a whole-body allergic reaction, especially if you've had one before.

Personal stories about allergy shots for insect stings

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

I have had
systemic reactions to insect stings before, although none were
life-threatening. I work in the landscaping and grounds maintenance industry,
so I am outdoors almost every day mowing lawns, trimming hedges, tending
flowerbeds, and similar activities that really put me at risk of getting stung.
I carry an epinephrine shot to my work sites, but I wanted to do something to reduce
my sensitivity to stings and cut the risk that I might have a really bad
reaction. So I've decided to have immunotherapy.

Rudy, age 26

I have what
must be a mild allergy to bee stings. I've been stung three or four times over
the past decade, and I always swell up quite a bit—my whole arm or leg or
wherever the sting is—and break out in hives around the sting, too. But it
never gets any worse than that. For me, allergy shots would just be too much
bother and expense for something that only happens once in a great while, and
my doctor tells me it's not really needed. My doctor and I make sure I have
an up-to-date epinephrine shot just in case, but I've never had to use it.

Max, age
57

Our daughter was 14 years old when she had
a pretty severe reaction to a yellow-jacket sting. She had swelling over most
of her body and a bad outbreak of hives. She was very frightened. After talking
it over with our doctor and an allergist, we decided to have her take allergy
shots. They told us her risk of having another similar reaction was fairly
high, and we felt it was worth the cost and the bother of having the allergy
shots to reduce the risk. We also make sure she keeps her epinephrine shot close by.

Maureen, age
37

Our 7-year-old boy was stung on the
shoulder by a hornet at a family picnic. He was uncomfortable with a patch of
hives across his back, but he got over it without anything worse. After talking
things over with our pediatrician, we decided allergy shots wouldn't be needed.
The chances he'll have another reaction like that are pretty low. But we do
keep an epinephrine shot at home and with the nurse at school.

Kimberly, age 24

What matters most to you?

Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.

Reasons to choose allergy shots for insect stings

Reasons not to choose allergy shots for insect stings

I won't use epinephrine, because I don't want to give myself a shot.

I feel comfortable giving myself a shot if I need to.

More important

Equally important

More important

I am worried about getting stung and having a bad reaction.

I am more afraid of the allergy shots than of my reaction to the insect stings.

More important

Equally important

More important

I don't mind spending the time and money to have allergy shots if it means I can avoid a bad reaction to an insect sting.

I don't want to spend the time or money to have allergy shots.

More important

Equally important

More important

My other important reasons:

My other important reasons:

More important

Equally important

More important

Where are you leaning now?

Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.

Having allergy shots

NOT having allergy shots

Leaning toward

Undecided

Leaning toward

What else do you need to make your decision?

Check the facts

1.1, I had a serious (whole-body) reaction to an insect sting in the past. This means I have a higher chance of having another bad reaction if I get stung again.

TrueThat's right. If you have been stung in the past and had a bad reaction, you have a high risk of having a similar reaction if you get stung again.

FalseNo, that's not right. If you have been stung in the past and had a bad reaction, you have a high risk of having a similar reaction if you get stung again.

I'm not sureIt may help to go back and read "Get the Facts." If you have been stung in the past and had a bad reaction, you have a high risk of having a similar reaction if you get stung again.

2.2, With allergy shots, small amounts of insect venom are injected into my body. This may prevent or reduce a bad reaction if I get stung again.

TrueThat's right. Allergy shots work by putting small amounts of insect venom into your body, making you less sensitive over time to the venom.

FalseNo, that's not right. Allergy shots work by putting small amounts of insect venom into your body, making you less sensitive over time to the venom.

I'm not sureIt may help to go back and read "Get the Facts." Allergy shots work by putting small amounts of insect venom into your body, making you less sensitive over time to the venom.

3.3, My chances of having a serious reaction to an insect sting are low. I was stung in the past, but I had only a slight skin reaction.

TrueThat's right. Only about 5 to 10 out of 100 people with localized reactions to insect stings later have a more serious, whole-body allergic reaction.

FalseNo, that's not right. Only about 5 to 10 out of 100 people with localized reactions to insect stings later have a more serious, whole-body allergic reaction.

I'm not sureIt may help to go back and read "Get the Facts." Only about 5 to 10 out of 100 people with localized reactions to insect stings later have a more serious, whole-body allergic reaction.

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

Allergies: Should I Take Shots for Insect Sting Allergies?

Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.

Get the facts

Compare your options

What matters most to you?

Where are you leaning now?

What else do you need to make your decision?

1. Get the Facts

Your options

Get allergy shots to make you less sensitive
to insect stings and reduce the risk of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

Do not get allergy shots, and try other things such as avoiding
stinging insects and carrying epinephrine to deal with the risk of a severe allergic
reaction.

Key points to remember

Allergy shots usually are recommended only for people who have
already had a bad reaction that affects their whole body. If you have been
stung in the past and had a whole-body
allergic reaction to the sting, you have a high risk
of having a similar reaction if you are stung again.

If you had an
anaphylactic (life-threatening) reaction in the past,
allergy shots greatly reduce your risk of having another severe whole-body
reaction.1

You may not need allergy shots if you had a normal (localized)
reaction or a large localized allergic reaction to an insect sting in the past.

If you have had
allergy tests that found one or more sensitivities to
insect stings, allergy shots can prevent life-threatening reactions and also
make you less worried about insect stings.

Allergy shots may not be
safe for you if you have an
autoimmune disease or take certain kinds of medicines (such as beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors).

Allergy shots can hurt a little, may trigger anaphylaxis in
some people, can be costly, and usually take 3 to 5 years to complete.

FAQs

What are allergies to insect stings?

An
allergic reaction to a sting occurs when your body's
immune system overreacts to substances called
allergens in the venom of stinging insects such as
bees, wasps, hornets, or fire ants.

What are the different types of allergic reactions?

Minor allergic reactions occur around the site of the sting. This is
called a localized reaction, and it can cause pain, itching, redness,
swelling, and hives near the site of the sting.

A more serious
allergic reaction can spread throughout your entire body. This is called a
systemic reaction. It can cause symptoms such as
itching,
hives, and swelling of the tongue, throat, or other
body parts.

A life-threatening systemic allergic reaction called
anaphylaxis can cause severe symptoms such as confusion,
trouble breathing,
shock, and sometimes death.

How do allergy shots work?

Allergy shots work by
putting small amounts of insect venom into your body, making you less sensitive
over time to the venom.

Getting a series of allergy shots can
prevent a systemic allergic reaction or make it less severe. Allergy shots aren't needed if you have mild, local allergic reactions to insect stings. Only
about 5 to 10 people out of 100 who have localized reactions to insect stings go on
to have a more serious, whole-body allergic reaction.2
This means that 90 to 95 out of 100 people who have localized reactions don't ever have a whole-body
reaction to an insect sting.

Allergy shots can greatly reduce your risk of having
another life-threatening reaction if you've had one before. Imagine a group of
100 people who have had a life-threatening reaction. Without allergy shots, up to 60
of those 100 people will have another life-threatening reaction in the future.
But if those 100 people get allergy shots, only 5 of them will have another
life-threatening reaction.1 This treatment is most effective after an entire course of allergy shots is complete.

After allergy
tests have identified the insect(s) you are allergic to, you can begin to get
the shots. At first, you will get weekly shots of small doses of venom and
allergens from the insect(s) that cause your allergies. After about 4 to 6
months of weekly shots, you will get a regular dose, called a maintenance dose,
every 4 weeks for another 4 to 6 months. Finally, you will keep getting monthly
shots for 3 to 5 years, depending on the type of stings that cause your
allergies. For example, fire ant allergies require longer treatment than other
stinging insect allergies.

How can you treat severe allergic reactions?

If
you have had severe reactions to insect stings in the past, you may want to get a series of allergy
shots on a faster schedule. For this you get allergy shots every few hours on one day or every few days. This helps to rapidly
increase your tolerance to an allergen. After the first shot, you must wait to
see if you have a reaction to the shot. If you don't have a reaction, you get
more shots throughout the day. You (or your child) may feel anxious about
receiving the next shot. So it may help to bring a book or something to
distract you while you wait.

This treatment usually works in 1 to
8 days instead of the standard treatment, which takes several months. You may
have this "rush" treatment if you have severe or life-threatening allergic
reactions to insect stings, are a long distance from any type of health care
center, have severe
allergic asthma, or are about to travel.

What are the risks of allergy shots?

Allergy shots
are safe for most people. The most common side effects are redness and warmth
at the injection site. Some people may have large local reactions that include
itching, hives, or swelling of the skin near the injection site.

But allergy shots can trigger a more serious whole-body reaction, which
may include trouble breathing or swelling in the deep layers of the skin. In
rare cases, a person may have a life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to the shots. Because of this, the shots
are given in a clinic or other health care setting where emergency care can be
provided if needed.

Talk with your doctor if you have an
autoimmune disease (such as
lupus) or are taking medicine for heart problems (such
as
beta-blockers). Allergy shots may not be safe for
you.

Why might your doctor recommend allergy shots?

Your doctor may advise you to have allergy shots for insect stings
if:

Allergy tests showed that you are sensitive
to
allergens from the venom of one or more
insects.

You had a life-threatening allergic reaction to an insect
sting.

You have whole-body reactions to insect stings but cannot
carry epinephrine with you at all times.

You work outside and
have worse reactions each time you are stung.

You have only been
stung once but had a moderate to severe reaction.

Why might your doctor NOT recommend allergy shots?

Allergy tests showed that you are not
sensitive to allergens from the venom of insects.

You have an
autoimmune disease (such as
lupus) or are taking heart medicine (such as
beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors).

You are younger than 16 and
had a mild skin reaction all over your body (systemic reaction) without any
other symptoms.

You tried allergy shots before, but the shots
triggered a moderate to severe allergic reaction.

2. Compare your options

Have allergy shots

Don't have allergy shots

What is usually involved?

You have a series of allergy
shots every week.

After 4 to 6 months of weekly shots, you get a shot every 4
weeks.

How long you receive monthly shots depends on the type of
insect sting you are treating.

You avoid insect
stings.

If you get stung, you take medicine, such as
antihistamines, for itching and other symptoms and then get medical help.

You carry epinephrine in case of a severe allergic
reaction.

What are the benefits?

If you have had a severe
allergic reaction, allergy shots can prevent symptoms from future insect stings
or make your symptoms less severe.

You will avoid having
shots.

You won't have to spend the money on a long series of
shots.

You won't have to travel to a clinic for regular shots.

What are the risks and side effects?

You may
have:

Redness and warmth at the injection site. (This is the most
common side effect.)

Large local reactions that include itching, hives, or swelling of
the skin near the injection site.

A serious whole body reaction (anaphylaxis),
which may include having a hard time breathing or swelling in the deep layers
of the skin. In rare cases, this allergic reaction can be life-threatening.

You could
have a moderate to severe allergic reaction to an insect sting.

You
could have a whole-body allergic reaction, especially if you've had one before.

Personal stories

Personal stories about allergy shots for insect stings

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

"I have had systemic reactions to insect stings before, although none were life-threatening. I work in the landscaping and grounds maintenance industry, so I am outdoors almost every day mowing lawns, trimming hedges, tending flowerbeds, and similar activities that really put me at risk of getting stung. I carry an epinephrine shot to my work sites, but I wanted to do something to reduce my sensitivity to stings and cut the risk that I might have a really bad reaction. So I've decided to have immunotherapy."

— Rudy, age 26

"I have what must be a mild allergy to bee stings. I've been stung three or four times over the past decade, and I always swell up quite a bit—my whole arm or leg or wherever the sting is—and break out in hives around the sting, too. But it never gets any worse than that. For me, allergy shots would just be too much bother and expense for something that only happens once in a great while, and my doctor tells me it's not really needed. My doctor and I make sure I have an up-to-date epinephrine shot just in case, but I've never had to use it."

— Max, age
57

"Our daughter was 14 years old when she had a pretty severe reaction to a yellow-jacket sting. She had swelling over most of her body and a bad outbreak of hives. She was very frightened. After talking it over with our doctor and an allergist, we decided to have her take allergy shots. They told us her risk of having another similar reaction was fairly high, and we felt it was worth the cost and the bother of having the allergy shots to reduce the risk. We also make sure she keeps her epinephrine shot close by."

— Maureen, age
37

"Our 7-year-old boy was stung on the shoulder by a hornet at a family picnic. He was uncomfortable with a patch of hives across his back, but he got over it without anything worse. After talking things over with our pediatrician, we decided allergy shots wouldn't be needed. The chances he'll have another reaction like that are pretty low. But we do keep an epinephrine shot at home and with the nurse at school."

— Kimberly, age 24

3. What matters most to you?

Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.

Reasons to choose allergy shots for insect stings

Reasons not to choose allergy shots for insect stings

I won't use epinephrine, because I don't want to give myself a shot.

I feel comfortable giving myself a shot if I need to.

More important

Equally important

More important

I am worried about getting stung and having a bad reaction.

I am more afraid of the allergy shots than of my reaction to the insect stings.

More important

Equally important

More important

I don't mind spending the time and money to have allergy shots if it means I can avoid a bad reaction to an insect sting.

I don't want to spend the time or money to have allergy shots.

More important

Equally important

More important

My other important reasons:

My other important reasons:

More important

Equally important

More important

4. Where are you leaning now?

Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.

Having allergy shots

NOT having allergy shots

Leaning toward

Undecided

Leaning toward

5. What else do you need to make your decision?

Check the facts

1.
I had a serious (whole-body) reaction to an insect sting in the past. This means I have a higher chance of having another bad reaction if I get stung again.

True

False

I'm not sure

That's right. If you have been stung in the past and had a bad reaction, you have a high risk of having a similar reaction if you get stung again.

2.
With allergy shots, small amounts of insect venom are injected into my body. This may prevent or reduce a bad reaction if I get stung again.

True

False

I'm not sure

That's right. Allergy shots work by putting small amounts of insect venom into your body, making you less sensitive over time to the venom.

3.
My chances of having a serious reaction to an insect sting are low. I was stung in the past, but I had only a slight skin reaction.

True

False

I'm not sure

That's right. Only about 5 to 10 out of 100 people with localized reactions to insect stings later have a more serious, whole-body allergic reaction.

Decide what's next

1.
Do you understand the options available to you?

Yes

No

2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you?

Yes

No

3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice?

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